Monthly Archive for April, 2015

: April, 2015

Obesity is a leading public health concern that increases the risk of several diseases, including coronary heart disease, stroke and diabetes. The estimated costs of treating obesity-related illnesses …

Under Argentina’s federal constitution and jurisprudence, the provincial governments play a prominent role in the development and management of the country’s substantial energy resources. As a result, the outcomes of local elections in Argentine provinces with large oil and natural gas reserves are consequential for energy and energy service companies, with no provincial election more important than yesterday’s in the province of Neuquén, where the rich Vaca Muerta formation is located. …

The use of mobile technologies to monitor health status or health outcomes — known as “mHealth” — is on the rise among patients and doctors. While many individuals are keen to use these technologies to track and monitor their health, as well as interact more conveniently with their physician, these practices raise difficult questions on how to maintain professionalism, privacy and patient safety in a changing landscape. …

At this point, projections indicate that a slowdown of China’s economic growth is nearly inevitable. This in turn will slow the growth of its share of global GDP as well as global trade — traditional measures of economic might and international presence. We must now consider what this means for China’s international economic presence and its influence on the global stage. …

The recent power shift in Saudi Arabia from the late King Abdullah to King Salman calls attention to the previous ruler’s method of addressing women’s issues and gender inequality, and the new ruler’s ability to respond to these concerns. The successes and failures of past policies should inform the new king on how to improve conditions for women. …

China is ascendant in global affairs. Riding on the strength of its powerhouse economy, China is making a clear effort to bolster its international presence, economically and in many other areas. Yet now we are seeing Chinese economic growth slowing. Since economic power is the lever for China’s vault onto the global stage, the question then arises, how much will China’s growth slowdown impact its global agenda? …

The current electoral labyrinth in Egypt continues to pose a significant challenge to creating a just and all-inclusive political system. Despite the myriad electoral reforms and constitutional amendments passed in the past four years, women continue to play a minor role in the decision-making process in postrevolutionary Egypt. The new constitution unveiled in early 2014 lacks a constitutional provision or a quota system that would guarantee equal political representation for women; this will negatively impact women’s ability to exert influence in the political arena. …

Mexico has recently become a flashpoint in the debate over the benefits of microcredit lending, and it may well be that the future of this rapidly evolving “business” will be decided in the sprawling metropolis of Mexico City. …

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